On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral photo showed baby owls sleeping face down due to their heavy heads.
On Reddit, many viewers were surprised to learn a surprising fact about baby owls after realizing they sleep face down because of their heavy heads.
Baby owls sleep face down due to their heavy heads.
On the X platform, a user who goes by @ shared a picture showing baby owls sleeping face down, which caught the attention of many.
An image shared on Twitter by author Mark Rees revealed the truth behind the sleep routine of baby owls.
In his post, Rees revealed that baby owls sleep face down due to their heavy heads. He also noted how he had never seen owl legs before.
“I’ve just discovered that baby owls sleep face down because their heads are too heavy,” Rees wrote. “Also, I don’t think I’ve seen owl legs before…”
In the comment selection, many viewer were shocked to learn that baby owls sleep face down because their heads are too heavy for their bodies. This unusual behavior sparked curiosity and prompted further discussions online.
Additionally, internet users dug deeper and found evidence in an episode of BirdNote. This episode described how young owlets sometimes nap lying down after being returned to their trees.
One person said: That owl looks like it just gave up on life.
A second wrote: I thought that was a cat, but holy shit that’s cute.
While a third commented: Too big brain too sleep
Another added: It looks like he just, fell over, and it looks weirdly nice
Someone else said: That owl look like a truck ride over her
The similar phenomenon of baby owls sleeping face down.
Previously, Field geophysicist Mika McKinnon shared her own picture of a baby owl sleeping face down.
In the post, she wrote: “Teenage owl sleep habits are way outside my lane, but I found (less hilarious) confirming accounts.”
In the comment, she also asked her followers if they had any information to confirm the theory of babies being top-heavy. struggle to sleep upright.
The reason behind baby owls’ sleeping style
Baby owls are born with disproportionately large heads. These heads are so heavy that they cannot support their weight while sleeping. As a result, they sleep face down.
Despite their head-heavy state, baby owls do not fall from trees while they nap. According to an article by the National Audubon Society, owls’ back toes, called hallux, grip tightly onto tree branches while they sleep. This prevents them from falling, ensuring they remain securely perched.
“A young owl doesn’t fall out of the tree while it snoozes, because its back toe, the hallux, holds onto the branch. The hallux will not open or let go until the bird bends its leg,” the article explained.
Additionally, owl researcher Heather Hinam shared that she had seen this behavior in other owls during her research. She explained that young owls rest lying down due to their heavy heads.
In short, many viewers also realizing that baby owls sleep face down because their heads are too heavy for their bodies to support.
This surprising behavior has sparked curiosity online and led to further research on how owls sleep.
